Are Third Term Abortions Immoral?

The issue of abortion irrespective of the duration of the pregnancy since inception is a contentious issue in the society, such that introduction of another complexity such as advanced stages of pregnancy whereby the infant is nearly fully developed further complicates the discussion. There are two extremists involved in the discussion; those who believe it is immoral to abort and the proponents of abortion who believe in the right of a woman to do as they please with their body. The major premises that guide the conversation on abortion include the moral ethical values, religion, health, and the reproductive rights of women. The divide in the late abortion controversy is more acutely visible in the American political arena; whereby Democrats agree that abortion is justifiable while Republicans believe that any form of abortion is immoral. On the whole, late term abortions should be considered as a moral option for pregnant women rather than a total illegalization given that the conflicting ideas are archaic and do not reflect the progress made in science in consideration to the need for late term abortions.

The term late abortion as used in this discussion entails the procurement of medical services in terminating a pregnancy after the first trimester; ideally, the fetus is considered developed. Medical experts do not generally use the words late term, but it is considered to infer that the pregnant lady is past the 21^st week of gestation. Around this time, the vital organs of the infant are developed and can survive outside the womb provided there is excellent medical care. To get the full scope of the discussion of the immorality of late term abortions, a brief consideration of the history of the practice illuminates on some of the reasons why so many people are opposed to the idea